MR. WHITEsaid, he would beg to ask the President of the Board of Control, seeing that the island of Perim, in the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, has been recently occupied in the name of the British Crown, whether the privileges of a free port have been or will be accorded thereto?
Mr. VERNON SMITHsaid, that the island of Perim was occupied by the Indian, Government so long ago as 1799; it was re-occupied by the Marquess of Wellesley in 1801, and our possession had been undisputed since that day. The hon. 142 Member was mistaken, therefore, in saying that the island had been "recently occupied." Perim was described as an island five miles in length, and its re-occupation now was with a view to the establishment of a lighthouse thereupon. As far as he knew no port existed. There was, however, a harbour, and any dues which were levied for the purpose of defraying the charges of the lighthouse would be levied equally on both foreign and British ships. There might be other islands in the Red Sea where it might be advantageous to erect lighthouses, but the present one being in the possession of the East India Company, it had been selected first. For the reason he had stated there was no intention of making it a free port.